In a significant expansion of its affordable housing portfolio, Savills Investment Management has acquired 105 operational homes in Oxfordshire from Blenheim Estates for its Simply Affordable Homes fund. The transaction, completed through its for-profit Registered Provider Simply Affordable Homes RP Limited, marks the fund's third acquisition and second transaction of 2025, with the portfolio now comprising 367 affordable rent, intermediate rent and shared-ownership homes throughout the UK.
The newly acquired properties feature a mix of intermediate market rent and shared ownership tenures, all carrying EPC B ratings and delivering significant social impact with average rent levels at approximately 60% of market rent. This acquisition follows the fund's recent purchase of 94 income-producing homes at Heyford Park, another major development in Oxfordshire that forms part of a larger regeneration project set to deliver over 6,000 homes, 50,000m2 of commercial space, and essential infrastructure.
"This acquisition is an excellent addition to the Fund. The portfolio is of very high quality and delivers a significant social impact to our residents, with average rent levels close to 60% of market rent. This latest transaction further demonstrates our ability to source high quality assets with leading ESG credentials and it provides investors with immediate and defensive income in a sector where the role of institutional capital is increasingly important to bringing much needed new product to market," said Dominic Curtis, Fund Manager for the Simply Affordable Homes Fund at Savills IM.
The €26.2bn (AUM) Savills Investment Management launched the Simply Affordable Homes fund in April 2024, securing equity commitments from institutional investors including the LGPS Investment pool London CIV, Better Society Capital, Schroder BSC Social Impact Trust, and Savills. The fund adopted the Sustainability Impact Label under UK SDR in February 2025, operating under enhanced governance frameworks with a 'Theory of Change' impact framework designed alongside The Good Economy, focusing on social impact and future carbon emission reduction commitments.
"Our third acquisition for Simply Affordable Homes exemplifies our commitment to the provision of high-quality and energy-efficient housing that is both affordable and readily available for local communities experiencing undersupply. By funding the delivery of these homes, we are bringing immediate additionality to market while responding to strong institutional demand for access to the sector," commented Keith Exford, Chairman of Simply Affordable Homes RP.
What investors should note is that this acquisition underscores the growing importance of affordable housing as a defensive asset class offering reliable income streams amidst economic uncertainty, with regulated affordable rents providing inflation protection and strong occupier demand ensuring minimal void periods.
People mentioned:
- Dominic Curtis, Fund Manager for the Simply Affordable Homes Fund, Savills Investment Management
- Keith Exford, Chairman of Simply Affordable Homes RP
Companies mentioned:
- Savills Investment Management - International real estate investment manager with €26.2bn AUM
- Simply Affordable Homes RP Limited - UK for-profit registered provider regulated by the Regulator of Social Housing
- Blenheim Estates - Property owner/developer
- Pye Homes - Construction company
- London CIV - LGPS Investment pool
- Better Society Capital - Institutional investor
- Schroder BSC Social Impact Trust plc - Institutional investor
- Savills Plc - Institutional investor
- The Good Economy - Social impact advisor
Image: Courtesy of Savills Investment Management
